RETURN TO WINDSOR

It is like coming home to an old friend. Ger and I had a wonderful day yesterday after arriving at Heathrow at 10 AM. Bridget was there to meet us and we came home by way of Tesco, the grocery store. Every thing is so familiar and welcoming. It looks a little different in January than it did in June and July but just as great. It is a bit chillier than Florida, a mere 32 degrees, (that would be 0ne degree Celsius), rather than the 78 degrees that we left in West Palm Beach. But I really don't care. It is a refreshing change and it is so good to be here. We went with Bridget to pick the kids up from school and both were so excited to see us. Roman has grown taller and Abby is as adorable as ever. I told her I was going to start calling her Mini because she is a spitting image of me when I was 6.
After we had a super great dinner of spaghetti and meat balls, (Abby's favorite), she opened her gifts and we all crashed early. Ger and I were asleep by 9 and slept till 10 this morning. So much for jet lag . . .  I guess we are seasoned travelers and don't experience jet lag any more. Or maybe it is just that we are so old we always feel this way and don't realize it is jet lag.
Today when we got up we dressed warm and headed out the door for our half hour walk into town. (My cardiologist told me to walk a half hour every day. Good thing town isn't any closer.) We got into town and it seemed like we had just been there yesterday. We went to the post office and exchanged some dollars into pounds. Not a great exchange rate these days but it is what it is. For $500 we got 390 pounds. So with money in our pockets we were now ready to shop. But first we stopped for a cup of tea and to wait for Bridget to come from her French class and meet us for lunch. We had a lovely surprise to find Kyle with her and we all had a great English lunch at one of the many pubs in Windsor. From there Kyle went back to work and Bridget, Ger and I went to find a dress shop. It seems that Kyle and Bridget have been invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace a week from Monday. The invitation came to Kyle's office and he jumped at the chance to go. The invitation suggested Kyle wear a suit, (black tie is not necessary), and Bridget to NOT wear slacks or have bare legs. Also . . . NO HATS !   Bridget checked with some of her British friends who have attended similar events and got some good suggestions of the type of dress to look for. We found a shop, settled Ger in next door at the tea shop and Bridget and I got to shopping. It didn't take long to find the perfect dress that looks just wonderful on Bridget. She got a necklace and earrings to match and she is ready to go. And the best thing of all . . . it was ALL on sale.  (You will have to wait until a week from Monday for the pictures!)
Bridget left us in Windsor and biked home and we followed in a cab after a little more shopping and a cup of hot chocolate (With all the tea and drinks today it was a good thing I didn't take a water pill this morning! ) By the time we got home it was time to walk over and pick up Abby from school. She was dressed in costume today for "library" day. The kids got to dress like a favorite story book character. She dressed
like "Franny K Stein" (Frankenstein) the title character in some books that mom and dad have been reading to her. She was adorable and we got her picture which will have to be added after our return to the States. She looked so cute but Grandpa didn't even recognize her with her big black glasses on. She even won the award for the best costume. As Abby told us, "(she) was the only one in the class to get the award!" GO ABBY ! Roman missed all this because on Friday's he stays after to play Rugby with the school team. GO ROMAN!
After school there was then kite flying, playing with a little neighbor child, painting, piano playing ( keyboard was one of Abby's gifts from mom and dad), dinner, Bridget opening gifts for her birthday, more cupcakes, opening the gifts that had been left in grandpa's suitcase and forgotten from under Bridget's bed, playing with said gifts, showers, tooth brushing and a wild game of Chutes and Ladders.
And so ends day two in England. Everyone is now in bed, including Ger and I am not far behind.
Tomorrow is KID PARTY day with 14 kids from Abby's class arriving at the house for a movie, popcorn and pizza.  After that I think it will be booze for the adults and an early bed time for all. I'll keep you posted.